Khabib Nurmagomedov is determined to make sure 2017 isn’t a lost year.

Finally healthy and back to training, the undefeated Dagestani lightweight appeared Monday on The MMA Hour and revealed that there is an “80 percent” chance he makes his long-awaited return on Dec. 30 at UFC 219 in Las Vegas, Nev. And despite the UFC lightweight title picture currently being muddled by two belts, Nurmagomedov has his sights set squarely on Tony Ferguson — the UFC’s new interim lightweight champion — rather than the UFC’s reigning 155-pound king, Conor McGregor.

If this does not happen, which I don't think it will, then it sounds like he'll be fighting Edson Barboza at UFC 219... but crazier things have happened and if they actually do Conor/Diaz 3 next it wouldn't surprise me if they did Tony/Khabib as well.

The reality is, this scenario could really happen. I could absolutely see Conor talking a money fight over the legit title fight. If that’s the case, the money hungry ufc might make Khalabib v Ferguson. Frankly, Khalabib does not deserve a title shot. He needs to prove himself in the cage and prove he can make weight and can vie for a title. He lost his shot with his tiramisu. Khalabib comes off as entitled and demands shit when he needs to sit down and stfu.